Digital technologies as enablers of organizational resilience in SMEs

Abstract

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are particularly vulnerable to disruptions in supply chains because their limited financial, human, and organizational buffers make it difficult for them to absorb and offset shocks (Amin & Jolevski, 2023; Eggers, 2020; OECD, 2024). At the same time, digital technologies are increasingly being discussed as levers for strengthening organizational and supply chain resilience; however, the mechanisms of action often remain unclear and SME-specific conditions are under-examined (OECD, 2021). This paper therefore develops a mechanism-based conceptual model that explains how key technology classes, such as monitoring/IoT, data integration/platforms, analytics/AI, and digital collaboration, operate through three resilience mechanisms: (1) visibility and sensemaking, (2) decision quality and response speed, and (3) organizational learning and adaptation (Awad & Martín-Rojas, 2024; Duchek, 2020). Building on conceptualizations of resilience and current evidence regarding the role of information processing, transparency, and innovation capacity, measurable dimensions and indicator logics are proposed that account for SME realities such as data heterogeneity, skills shortages, and overcomplexity (Chen et al., 2021; OECD, 2021). The discussion derives testable proposals and demonstrates how digital twin and simulation approaches, as well as AI-supported decision aids, can enhance resilience in SME contexts not only through better decisions but also through structured learning loops (Pan et al., 2025; Roman et al., 2025; Weigert & Behrendt, 2022).